Archive
Vietnam tree cutting debacle highlights opaque politics
A government program that planned to cut more than 6,700 trees in a bid to ‘beautify’ Hanoi, Vietnam, has been abruptly halted due to significant public backlash. While analysts have heralded this
Despite Iran deal, price war will dominate 2015 oil markets
Regardless of the final outcome of Iran’s nuclear programme negotiations, the coming months will see a continuing price war between OPEC producers and the shrinking US shale sector. The recent agreement
Limited prospects for EU to diversify natural gas imports
Russia will remain a major supplier of natural gas to the EU as projects to find alternative sources face headwinds from escalating costs and political meddling from Moscow. Whereas Europe
Tensions subside in Bangladesh, but is turmoil over?
Bangladesh has been embroiled in a destructive political turmoil for the past three months. Widespread political agitation, sporadic incidents of violence and arson, and breakdown of the societal structure have
Lebanon hanging on despite increasing regional collapse
Lebanon is currently one of the few stable countries in the Middle East, but this stability remains fraught. Its fate is still influenced, although not dictated, by external powers and
Can a charter city make Honduras prosperous?
Investors around the world follow Honduras leading a new Charter City project. Yet, citizen discontent threatens the project with political instability. The second poorest country in Central America, Honduras faces
Uzbekistan’s electoral stability creates investment opportunities
The re-election of President Karimov for a 4th term spells continuation of rampant corruption, while Karimov is forced to reduce dependency on a Russia in crisis. However, the entailed political stability
Uruguay to provide port space for landlocked Bolivia
Uruguay has signed an agreement with the Bolivian President Evo Morales to provide the landlocked Bolivia an outlet to the sea. The project will allow the country to access the Atlantic
Obama’s Pivot to Asia fails to impress China
The Pivot to Asia, America’s new grand strategy announced in 2011, rebalanced America’s focus towards the Asia-Pacific region. Less than four years later, the launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment
Lee Kuan Yew’s passing offers Singapore unexpected lessons
The passing of longtime ruler and modernizer Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) in Singapore has raised questions about the future of the prosperous micro-nation. While some worry about the country’s prospects